DUBAI, United Arab Emirates » In-Kyung Kim shot a bogey-free 7-under 65 yesterday to build a two-shot lead over Michelle Wie at the halfway point of the Dubai Ladies Masters.

The South Korean, who won the Longs Drugs Challenge this year, believes she could have done better.

“;I feel very happy with my round, but I had some more chances for birdies,”; said Kim, who led at 135. “;I could have gotten a little bit lower. The little putts were hard to read.”;

Wie shot 68 in a round that included six birdies and two bogeys. Tania Elosegui (66), who made a hole-in-one on No. 7, and Amy Yang were a shot behind Wie.

Wie started with three straight birdies, but missed chances on the final three holes.

“;I feel like I'm having a lot of fun on the golf course. But I also feel like I'm playing pretty consistent,”; Wie said. “;I want to make a lot more birdies and keep playing better every day.”;

By the time Wie teed off, Kim had already posted her 65.

“;I saw the scoring was really low and I was like, 'I have to start out like this.' So I just went out there and it kind of worked out,”; Wie said.

Overnight leader Maria Hjorth (73) made a triple-bogey 8 on the final hole and dropped into a tie for fifth at 139.

British Open champion Catriona Matthew (68) kept up her effort to overtake Sophie Gustafson at the top of the money list, joining Hjorth at 5-under overall.

Gustafson (69) was two shots further back.

S. Korean tops Aussie PGA

South Korean Han Min-kyu upstaged the big-name locals at the Australian PGA on yesterday, shooting a 9-under-par 62 to take a four-stroke lead after the first round.

Ryan Haller was second after a 66, followed by five other Australians at 67: Stuart Appleby, Matthew Griffin, Scott Strange, Andrew Dodt and Henry Epstein.

Adam Scott, last week's Australian Open winner, was in a group at 68. Defending champion Geoff Ogilvy and Robert Allenby each shot 70 and John Daly had a 71.

Nicklaus speaks on Tiger

Jack Nicklaus said the fallout over Tiger Woods' car crash and allegations of extramarital affairs is “;none of my business.”;

“;Our public is pretty forgiving at times,”; Nicklaus said yesterday. “;Time usually heals all wounds. I think the hardest thing is obviously his family. That's a private matter for him and his family.”;

Nicklaus won 18 major championships, the most in golf history. Woods is second with 14.

Woods has remained out of the public eye since the crash Thanksgiving weekend and the scandal that quickly followed. He has acknowledged “;transgressions”; on his Web site.

“;He's a great athlete,”; Nicklaus said. “;He'll figure it out.”;

Nicklaus' first public comments about Woods' situation came after an event honoring The Benjamin School's golf team, recent winners of a Florida state championship. Son Gary Nicklaus played on a state title team at the school 26 years ago.